Roll of Cord

A roll of sennit (kaula) made of coconut fiber. The cordage is wound tightly with a short handle at one end. The sennit was used in building houses and canoes.

Cordage (nā kaula) was integral to nearly every aspect of Hawaiian life, serving vital functions in fishing, warfare, construction, transport, and funerary practices. It secured nets, traps, and weapons; lashed house frames and thatching; facilitated the transport of timber for houses and canoes; and was employed in carrying devices, drum bindings, and burial preparation. The most common material used in the construction of cordage was ʻolonā (Touchardia latifolia), bast fibers that were meticulously harvested, processed, and crafted into durable cords used for fishing lines, nets, slings, and the foundations of featherwork; its strength allowed cordage to last for years and even generations. Coconut husk fiber, fashioned into sennit (aha), was also commonly used, particularly in canoe construction and architectural lashings, while additional plant fibers such as hau, mamaki, wauke, banana, and ukiʻuki provided materials suited to heavier or specialized applications.